MSNBC's lineup isn't an accident. While I often disagree with some of the corporate decisions made, I can't help but feel that its quite clear that MSNBC is endeavoring to bring some balance to the news world and offset Fox's insanity.
I don't want MSNBC to be a 'liberal Fox', and fortunately so far they haven't been. I think they're trying to make that distinction with this terrible decision.
For that reason, I think our best approach to fighting for Keith is not merely to scream and shout (though a dose of that is good too), but to make cogent arguments.
Here's the one I sent:
Hi Mr. Griffin,
I'm certain you're getting quite a bit of contact and much of it isn't nice. I'm sorry about that. I'm also sure that the decision to suspend Keith Olbermann was neither unilateral nor easy.
For that reason, I feel that Keith's greatest defense is not volume, but reason, and since his voice is important to me and many other people, I'd like to put forth the following argument:
Donating to the DNC or DSCC or any other major party organization would be a clear demonstration of bias for one party over another. Donating to a few key candidates who represent your views or whose races you believe are important merely demonstrates ones own beliefs about the political issues of the day. It is very different to be unabashedly liberal than it is to be unabashedly pro-Democrat anti-Republican. Keith's liberalism is on full display every night on his show, and is indeed a major feature of the show. Exercising his speech rights in the same way corporations like NBC and GE do is very much in line with his know, expressed beliefs and does not cause him to appear biased against one party or another.
Clearly, the failure to disclose this donation ahead of time to NBC was a breach of company policy. I understand that, and I would never argue that NBC simply scrap their ethics code. I'm frankly grateful that at least one news organization still gives a damn. I would, however, argue that not all breaches of company policy are equal. Just as enjoying a cigarette too close to the doors of 30 Rock would not result in summary dismissal, so an indefinate suspension seems a disproportionate penalty for an Opinion show host whose actions were not out of line, but who merely failed to send in the proper paperwork.
I don't intend to bully or threaten or boycott. I will say that Keith has been a valuable part of my day for two years now. I very much doubt that there is another host or show that will be able to inspire the long-term viewer loyalty I feel for Keith. Losing him would be a blow to the balance of the national discourse, to MSNBC, and to myself and his many viewers.
With thanks for your time,
-S Cooper